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Colonel Tim Fitch
Chief of Police
St. Louis County Police Department
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Chief Tim Fitch was appointed to the position of Chief of Police on June 10, 2009 by the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners. By County Charter, the Chief of Police is responsible for the law enforcement duties of the Sheriff. St. Louis County is unique in the U.S., as it does not have an elected sheriff. Chief Fitch has served the agency for more than 30 years. The St. Louis County Police Department serves a population of approximately one million and a geographical area of more than 500 square miles. Current agency strength is nearly 1,100 and it has a budget of more than $113 million.
Chief Fitch was born in the city of St. Louis and currently resides in St. Louis County with his wife and daughter. His son is a military police officer on active duty in the United States Air Force and is currently serving in Afghanistan. Chief Fitch started his career in 1983 as a patrol officer. He has been assigned to every division of the department during his service. Chief Fitch has a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Truman State University and a Master's degree in Management from Fontbonne University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia and of the United States Secret Service Dignitary Protection program. He attended Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government as part of the FBI National Executive Institute.
The Chief has been recognized by the St. Louis County Chapter of the NAACP with their Extraordinary Service Award; the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) with their Outstanding Civic Leader Award; the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse with their Community Service Award and by Fontbonne University as their Alumni of the Year. He was recently recognized in Washington, DC by the President’s Office of National Drug Control Policy for St. Louis County’s initiative to combat heroin overdoses.
He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), where he serves on the governing board, Missouri Police Chief's Association, St. Louis Area Police Chiefs Association (2011 Chairman), FBI National Academy Associates (2006 Chapter President), Law Enforcement Officials of Greater St. Louis (2009 President) and the Backstoppers Board of Directors. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for the St. Louis Crusade Against Crime and the Harris House Drug Treatment Center. Chief Fitch is a certified Assessor and Team Leader for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). CALEA is the only international organization that accredits law enforcement agencies.